I don't think we have any cotton wood where I live (could be wrong), but we do have sweet gum.... I feel your pain. My Grandfather and other old timey carpenters used those twisted grain planks for purlings on roof tops, and "knees" on boats. Once dried, the twisted grain tightened around the screw or nail, making it almost impossible to pull or back out. Maybe there is some use for cotton wood around your place?

Kirk, I never milled cottonwood or even seen one but that tells me it would be a strong wood and not prone to snapping. American elm is much like that and that is great for truck beds and anywhere you need a tough wood. Sounds like that may be a good place for black powder wedges. Frank C.

I have tried black powder on cottonwood before and did not have much luck. It is very tough wood and can take a beating but it is not weather resistant at all. As long as you keep it good and sealed your OK but it is high maintenance if its used outside.

Our local cotton wood, black cotton wood, is pretty well regulated to being used as chips or filler for plywood. The wood is very stringy and hard to finish. People are always trying to give it away as firewood but it is so wet it's hard to dry and as Kirk say hard to split.

There used to be a business at the other end of my street that rebuilt pallets. He was wining to me he couldn't find the sizes of hardwood he needed I told him I'll cut any dimension he wants, until he told me what he's willing to pay, I'd make more selling it as firewood. Frank C.